July 11, 1960 · Katanga province (Élisabethville) Theater
July 11, 1960
As chaos spread, the rich southern province of Katanga — source of most of the Congo's mineral wealth — declared independence under Moïse Tshombe, backed by Belgian officials, the mining giant Union Minière, and white mercenaries. The wealthiest region had broken away, taking with it the revenues on which the whole country depended.
Commanders